Transplanter



April 2, 1935. P'QLL 1,996,686

TRANSPLANTER Filed April 6, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Benjamin FOIZNQNTOR.

ATTORNEV$ April- (2,1935 B: pgg v 1,996,686

TRANSPLANYTER FiledApril 6, l9 5l 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS April 2, .1935. B. POLL. 1,996,686

TRANSPLANTER Filed April 6, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 fien jamj/n Fall INVENTOR W ATTORNEYS Api-il 2,1935. B, P 1,996,686

TRANSPLANTER 7 Filed April 6, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR M ATTORNEYS means that receives the plants from the operators, and will, hold the plants during theirtravel to Patented Apr. 2, 1935 1 1,995,686, v :TRANSPLANTER I Benjamin Poll, Hollandl Mich. Application April '6, 19:1, sem rnasz snu 4 claims. (c1.111 s This invention relates to transplantersand its general object is .to provide a'transplanting nmachine which is capable of planting orsettin'g plants of all kinds and includes a plant handling a releasing means which relea'sesthelsame for planting, and this operation is'accomplished in a manner whereby the plants are not only handled expeditiously but'without fear of bruisin breakingordamaging; y

A further object of the invention is to provide a transplanter which inclu'des'a' plant handling and carrying means havingrcam means for ma-.

nipulating the same atintervalsin the travel thereof and some of saidcam means are adapted for disposing the plantfreceiving and carrying means inopposed directions whereby they can be conveniently fed with plants by operators seated upon opposite sides of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a transplanter, a plant handling means that is extremely convenient for the operators to feed, with the result extreme care doesfn'ot have to be exercised in feeding the meanswhich is thence automatic in its operation, andflsaid means together with itsmounting means is simple in con-; struction, reasonably inexpensive to manufacture ,andextremely emcientf in operationvand service.'

This. invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several'parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated ,in the accompanyingdrawings and specifically pointed vout in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in will be had-to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or. corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which: Figure l is a side elevation of a transplanter:

constructed in accordance with the present invention. V

l FigureZis'a side elevationof my transplanting v device per seand showing thesameremovedfrom the wheeled frame therefor: 7 a i Figure 3. is'a top plan view thereof.

Figure'4 is a top plan vi w of on of my plant l holding and carrying devices in -open position;

Figure 5 is a view of one side thereof. f V Figure -6 is a similar view of the opposite side; Figure? is a bottom plan view ofl igure 4 showing the carrying chaini brokenaway.

holding and carrying means in open position.

detail; reference Figure 8 isa fragmentaryend view of'the plant Figure 9 is a'sectionalview taken approximate? 1y on line 9.-9 of Figure 4, with-the chain; re moved. v Referring tothedrawings in detaihthei'reference numeral I indicatesthe frame of my transplanter and this frame ispreferablyrectangular in formation; Depending from the sides of the frame aresuitable bracket. means 2 ,which are .providedwith bearings to receive the rear axle 3 that has keyed or, otherwise securedjthereto the rear wheels 4. Journa'led in the forwardlend of the frame I is a standard having secured to its lower end in any appropriate manner an axle which receives the front wheels 5, the latter beg-.1 ing the usual ,caster'wheeljs a's willzbe apparent, and this standard has also secured thereto means v forreceiving the tongue a'sshown in Figure 1, Secured tothe. frameand risingtherefroinare supporting means'for the drivers seattli, and

fixedjto the side membersof the framejaresup porting members which accommodate seats l for Y the operators which feed the plants to the plant receivingfand holding means which will bep'jres-j ently' described. 'ItIwill be r note'd that I have shown two operators seats in Figure ,1, but in 25; fact there are four of these seats, two on each. side ofthef frame. I jhjave also'illustrated the water reservoir 8 and of 'courselthis reservoir has' suitably connected thereto [a hose or theilike whereby'water is fed to a, suitable means for conveying the water tovthe plants prior; tothe latter being covered-with earth as. will be apparent. I

In Figure? bf the drevirigsl v 11$trated the planting. unit which fact forinslthe subej ject matter of thepresent invention; and'this unit'includes avframe made up of parallel ar -j ranged strips 9 which for distinction-are referred to asthe lower strips, and the said lower-strips have their forward ends inclined upwardlyjas at ends securedto strips II which I refer to as upper;

strips, and the strips II have their fo'rward ends Y inclined downwardly. while the remaining portions are arranged horizontally Secured to theinclined portions II) are bearing brackets l2 whichflreceive a shaff l3 andl'thi s' shaft has fixed :to its outer end a sprocket gearf [4 thathas trained thereabouta sp o t hain 15;}

the latter being likewise-trainedabout a sprocket" gear lfiiwhichis secured tame rear axle .3',' .with

the result the shaft is drivenfin accordance with the travel of 'the'rearwheela'and the shaft l3 also acts'inthe capacity as apivot means'fortheplanting unit sothat thelatter will be free Y l0. These. inclined portions have their'upper I to move in accordance with the irregularities of the ground duringth'e travelof the machine.

The strips 9 and l I are supported in spaced relation with respect to each other through the medium of upright strips I1 and suitably supported between the strips 9 and arranged in suitable guide-ways included in the unit frame, as well as mounted for rotation are a pair or ground engaging wheels 7 l8 that are arranged in divergent relation with respect to each other and act in the packingwheelsi v In otherwords, the arrangement of these wheels is such that they pack the soil about the plant after the same is deposited in the furrotv' and the latteris provided by furrow opening shares l9 which are adjustably mounted mitten the instrumentality of bracket member's ZO-th'at are slotted, and arranged inrthe slots are holtand nut connections which secure tli'bra'cketsfl to t i p viefl ext nd n we an s hat? messes. ii ivqtellri reseire "as 1 9f hePla holdingage. emm n w th, e a s .37 Elr 'feez 3A. we h ie fid 9 i i? ha k 30 in a mannerv vhereby they oanf be adjusted; rd ines n s and he the sel nium lity" he fiifie E iends; 9f] .5.11: 1 15 this the ap etite and Qfh wi emina aun ies-s to :te' e eiv e' a at one i t" 1, 1 it a ity Q .om i a s; ormali ts. P at? teqs i ee arm 33. The'arms'34'have formed with their free ends flanges 38 and the flange of each of the arms 34 cooperates'with its companion arm 33 for the purpose of providinga plant receiving pocket as best shown in Figure 4; The coil spring 31 is received intermediate its ends by a stop 39 which disposes the spring in bent relation whereby the latter will urge the plant holding arms 33 into contacting engagement with their companion arms 34 free endso feach of the"arms are tapered as best shown in Figure '6." Dutdth fact that the plant receivingand carrying means is pivb t'ally secured to the links that receive the same,

they are movable'so as to be disposed at right I angles with respect to the sprocket chain 25, but

116 mounting" allows the plant receiving and holding greens t9 hemoved in opposed directions with'respectto"achother, as the shanks 30 are each fprtwided with a finger 40 arranged at the m were d p? spe t i igure 6.

L 'j. i ra aren -v ri s and ar an'eedf ew d w l if i paanaiaasfi 1 I term gain. tri s 5. andi h e S ip are rovi'ded wit em rr inclinatio do nwa y and l n e. ben s i 4 h t" i e e i er c the; as be t .t Y T /Edi tfiPS46"have hfi jn islseqlrfiq e n i'g it sirmsg [r nd tnes fi i lal" a i i sire. o the drawings, it will" beobvioiisthat I haveprovided in trans ammg machifi'that may be drawn 7 risers menu the heab by any well known draft means such as a tractor o'r thelike'; and the"wlfee1s'"'4' 'not only act in the capaoity as supporting wheels for the frame I;

but also rotate the axle 3 which. iniact'is a drive shaft for operating the mechanism of the transplanter, through the medium oi the sprocket rs: it and, llwn rthe. sp o ket. them '5 and. a

a a. 1. the shaft anasJsecuxedther tqa snr ek ea which has t a edi e qui a s s t chain .1," the e er 5 also ra iQ ah iu a nr'o' t respect to each other and-horizontally ina planesubstantially parallel with the upper horizontal run of the chain 25, with the'clamp holding arms engaging the outerside edge of the flange38,

so that the pockets will be opened for receiving the plants;

When the plant-receiving and holding'means' have the pdckets'thereof arranged in open po-l sition, the operators that'are seatedupon the seats 1 deposit "plants withinthepockets, and

disengage the arms 33 from the outer side edge of the flanges 38, thereby closing'the pockets so that the arms 33 and 34 will-hold the plants during the travel of the plant receiving and" holding means from the time the plants are de-.

posited therein, to the time that they are released. The releasing action will be presently described; After the plants have been deposited in the plant receiving and holding means by the operators, the said means are carried by the chain 25, until they reach the cam members 44 which are arranged in the path of the said means, The plant receiving and holding means engage the cam members 44 which act as guides therefor, and due to the downwardly and inwardly curved arrangement of the cam members 44, they will 7 dispose the plant receiving and holding means at right-angles to the plane of travel of the inclined downward front run of the chain 25, as the plant holding and receiving means are advanced by the movement of the chain, as'will be apparent upon inspection of Figure 3.

The strips 45 guide the plant receiving and holding means in their downward movement and until they'reach the cam strips 42,'at'which time the said means will be disposed betweenthe cam strips 42 and the fingers 4| will engage the camv strips 42 which will result in the plant holding arms 33 being moved to an open position as best shown in Figure 2 for releasing the plants from the pockets so that the latter will be deposited in the furrow provided by the furrow opening shares l9." After the plants have been deposited, the ground engaging wheels will pack the soil aboutthe same.

Due to the coil springs 31, the plant holding arms are urged toa closed position, after they leave the cam strips 42, but the flanges 38 are disposed in the path of the plant holding arms 33 and therefore the arms cannot be entirely closed with the result the pockets remain open during the upward travel of the plant receiving and holding means between the curved strips 46. It will be noted that the said means are stillarranged at right angles with'respect to the plane of travel of the chain 25 during their upward travel movement on the inclined upward rear run of the chain but as soon as the said means reach the cam members 43, the fingers 40' engageithe said cam members 43 and cause the plant receiving and holding means to drop tothe horizontal position as shown in Figure 3 and it will be noted that the pockets are still open or in plant receiving posi tion, so that the operators can place the plants within the pockets as has been previously set forth; I

While the arms 33 are provided with spring means for urging the latter toward the arms 34,

the arrangement of the spring is such that the,

plant re the appendedclaims.

pressure is not very great upon the plants,-with the result the' plants arenot' bruised, broken or damaged in any way during their travel through the'machine, and until they are deposited in It; is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and' novel features of my in-f vention will be readily apparent.

. I desire it to be u'nderstood'that- I may make changes in the construction and in the comb'ina -f tion and arrangement oftheseveral partsjpjr'ovided thatsuch changes fall-within thescop:

" What I claim is: 7

1. In a transpla "ter; a sprocket chain mounted for travel, plant receiving and carrying means pivotally secured to the sprocket chain'and being mounted for alternate movement in opposed directions with respect to each other, a shank included in each of the plant receiving and carrying means, a stationary arm mounted for adjustment upon said shank, a tongue'secured to said shank, an, arm pivotally secured toi the tongue, a flange formed with the stationary arm and cooperating with the pivoted arm to provide a pocket, a spring having 'connectionwith the pivoted arm for puts ting the latter under tension; said spring being adaptedto hold the pivoted arm in closed position or in open position against said flange.

2, In a transplanter, a planting unit comprising a pivotally mounted frame, packing wheels carried by said frame, furrow providing shares adjustably mounted with'respect to said frame, sprocket wheels mounted for rotation and carried by said frame,- a chain trained about the sprocket wheels, means for rotating one of said sprocket wheels for driving said chain, plant receiving and carrying means pivotally secured to said sprocket chain and arranged in spaced relation with respect to each other, each of said means including a shank, a link for each of the shanks andforming parts of the chain, an ear formed with each.

ofsaid links for pivotally receiving'its shank, a

stationary arm included in each of the plant rei ceiving and carrying means, and adjustably secured to its shank, a'flange for each of the stationary arms, a spring pressed arm for each shank and pivotally secured with respect thereto, the

spring pressed arms cooperating with the sta-' tionary arms and flanges to provide. plant receiv-' ing pockets, and cam means carried by the frame and arranged at-intervals in the path of the travel of the chain to act upon the plant receiving and carrying means for operating the latterto and from their plant receiving and releasing positions.

3. A transplanter comprising a wheeled frame, a frame pivotally secured within the frame first mentioned and including upper and lower strips having their forward ends secured together, up-

right strips secured to the upper and lower strips and supporting the latter in spaced relation with respect to each other, sprocketwheels carried by the pivoted frame, a sprocket chain trained about the. sprocket wheels for disposal in substantially triangle formation to provide'ari upper horizontel run, and an inclined downward front run, and I aninclined upward rear run, plant receiving and carrying means pivotally secured to the sprocket chain and including means to provide plant re-{ ceiving pockets, cam means arranged adjacent the ends of the runs of the chain and arranged inthe path of the plant receiving and carrying means to act upon the same; the cam means arwhei-eby th a te panbe r ce ei he Plant,

e asingicam means..,

ganged gqiacent t e. en o tneinclihed do n:

wa n .ruehe n flam d t ns th e a vine-tend arr n qm a pen er rt cgntt 19 we; 111 1 ei e e td to ar'rrig thiplant receiving and carryingmeans into a. position a ra, sn a i a in substantially triangle formationto provide an w r-h izontal r n an nc e downward f om I neleas iqg positipn, itherca m means arranged adja'-.

he -end of ;thei;n' c1ined upward rear run he ins adap ed to d smse th an receivineend carrying means in plant receiving position,jand sem mean di pl ls d a e n of t up er y M 7 iv0t11y'rn0nntedfreine, epnelget wheelacarried byeaidf amQ, a chain 7 ti ained aboutsaid sprocket wheele and arranged,

and inplined-upvvard rear'run,-p1ant V V vopen position. oe end seemi g means p ota lly secureqto eaid chain a, mannerswh rebx theyiareanount ed for alteme'te :moven entinppposeddirections with the :pivoted (arm to; provide ;-a -plant reeeivingv poeket, spring means for urging the pivoted arm in one direction to cloee the 'pocken-andeem meansrarranged adjacent the ends'of the .-runs of thechafin -to act .upon the plantpreeeiving'and carrying. means for moving the latter in :plant receivingpositionflhen in a. position for movement into a plant releasing position and thence to release the plants by disposing the pockets in Y JAM fiP L- 

